PUBLIC SCANDALS:
Sexual Orientation and Criminal Law in Romania


A report by Human Rights Watch
and the International Gay and Lesbian
Human Rights Commission


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New York · Washington · London · Brussels
Copyright © January 1998 by Human Rights Watch and IGLHRC
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 1-56432-178-9
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 98-84053



CONTENTS

1. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary Recommendations

2. BACKGROUND

The 1936 Penal Code
Advent of Article 200

3. ABUSE OF HOMOSEXUALS IN THE NEW ROMANIA

The Case of Ciprian Cucu and Marian Mutascu
The Case of Costel Barbu, Mihaita Boghean, Cosmin Hutanu, Augustin Moldoveanu, and Mihai Vechiu
The Case of Ovidiu Banu, Lucian Blaga, Ovidiu Bozdog, Florin Hopris, Gheorghe Nastase, and Ciprian Stoica
The Case of Traian Pasca
The Case of Ovidiu Chetea, Nicolae Petricas, and Nicolae Stupariu

4. UNDER PRESSURE FROM EUROPE

Revising Article 200
The Concept of Public Scandal
"In Public"
Recent Cases Under Article 200, Paragraph 1
The Case of Gheorghe Murariu, Constantin Pirvu, and Mircea Rusu
The Case of Radu Vasiliu and Adrian Gabriel Presnac
The Cases of Florian Cristian Hanganu and Stefan Harabula, and of Gavril Bors and Mihai Tintila

5. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ASSOCIATION

"Inciting and Encouraging: The Case of Mariana Cetiner
"Propaganda, Association, or Any Form of Proselytism"

6. DISCRIMINATION IN DEFINING THE "AGE OF CONSENT"

7. ABUSES BY POLICE AND OTHER OFFICIALS

Surveillance, Blackmail, Control
Surveillance in Baia-Mare
Police Beatings and Torture
Homosexuality in Detention

8. LAW, MEDICINE, AND SEXUALITY

9. INTERNATIONAL LAW AND DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations

APPENDIX I: LEGAL TEXTS

APPENDIX II: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH POLICY
ON LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS (1994)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS